Alabama ranks 10th in math recovery, 13th in reading, national report finds
As Alabama districts rank high in math recovery, Alabama Board of Education highlights progress while calling for improvements in reading scores.
Mason Reed 
Alabama is making significant strides in academic recovery, earning a top-10 national ranking in math performance according to the 2025 Education Scorecard. Among 35 states analyzed, Alabama landed 10th in math and 13th in reading, standing out as one of the few states to exceed 2019 math performance levels.
Breaking Down the Data
The latest report, which compiles data from approximately 35 million students in grades 3-8, shows the average Alabama student is scoring nearly 0.27 grade equivalents higher than 2022 math levels and 0.15 above 2019 marks. While reading recovery has proven more challenging—with current scores sitting 0.08 grade equivalents below 2019 levels—the national landscape is finally showing signs of a turnaround as of 2025.
Focus on Progress
During the May 14 Alabama Board of Education work session, State Superintendent Eric Mackey emphasized the need for continued growth. He noted that while the state is performing well, improvement has followed a U-shaped pattern, with the highest- and lowest-income districts seeing the largest gains. Addressing the middle-income districts remains a priority to ensure consistent progress across the board.
"Being 10th in the nation is not bad, but we want to talk about every child moving ahead," Mackey said. The department plans to look closer at successful reading initiatives in districts like Birmingham City, Tuscaloosa City, and DeKalb County to provide a roadmap for others.
Improvements in Attendance and Readiness
Beyond testing, the state is seeing a massive win in chronic absenteeism. After recording a national-high rate of 17% in 2023, the number of students missing more than 10% of the school year dropped to 12% by 2025, marking the lowest rate on record.
The state also celebrated gains in high school success metrics. The 2025 graduation cohort reached a 92.77% rate, up from 91.56% the previous year. Meanwhile, college and career readiness—which tracks benchmarks like industry credentials and military enlistment—jumped to 90.70%, a notable increase from 87.88% in 2024.
